Europe Advances Military Rotorcraft with ENGRT II Program Launch

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus and project factsheets from the European Defence Fund.

Europe Advances Military Rotorcraft Independence with ENGRT II

Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo Helicopters have officially launched the second phase of the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) program, a critical initiative designed to secure the continent’s industrial sovereignty in vertical lift capabilities. Announced on February 12, 2026, the project brings together a consortium of 12 European nations to define the architecture of future military aircraft expected to enter service beyond 2040.

According to the official announcement, the project is funded by a budget of approximately €160 million, with the European Defence Fund (EDF) contributing roughly €100 million. The initiative marks a significant transition from the initial research and technology (R&T) phase into a more mature research and development (R&D) stage, focusing on prototyping and wind tunnel testing over the next 36 months.

A Pan-European Consortium

The ENGRT II project represents a unified effort by Europe’s defense heavyweights to avoid reliance on non-European technology for future combat fleets. While Airbus Helicopters (France/Germany) serves as the coordinator and Leonardo Helicopters (Italy) as the co-coordinator, the network includes between 53 and 56 partners across the European Union.

Participating nations include the “Big Four”, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, alongside Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Poland. Key industrial partners joining the airframe manufacturers include Indra (Spain), Thales (France), and Hensoldt (Germany), who will focus on interoperability, avionics, and sensor technologies.

In a statement regarding the launch, Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, emphasized the strategic necessity of the program:

“We are stepping up after the first phase of the project, transitioning from a Research and Technology project into a Research and Development project. More than ever we must ensure that our home nations can operate the most advanced technologies now and in the future.”

Technological Focus and Future Capabilities

The primary objective of ENGRT II is to mature the technological building blocks required for a high-speed, survivable, and intelligent military rotorcraft. The program is currently analyzing two primary airframe configurations to determine the optimal solution for future operational requirements:

• Compound Rotorcraft: A design leveraging the Airbus “Racer” demonstrator concept, utilizing a traditional main rotor for lift and side-mounted propellers for high-speed cruise.
• Tilt-Rotor: A configuration led by Leonardo, similar to the V-22 Osprey, capable of tilting rotors to combine vertical takeoff with the speed of a fixed-wing aircraft.

Beyond the airframe, the consortium is developing critical subsystems essential for modern warfare. These include “Manned-Unmanned Teaming” (MUM-T) capabilities, allowing helicopter crews to control accompanying drones, and cognitive cockpits driven by AI to manage pilot workload. The project also prioritizes cyber resilience to ensure secure communications in jammed environments.

AirPro News Analysis

The launch of ENGRT II highlights a pivotal moment for European defense integration. By securing funding and alignment across 12 nations, the EU is signaling a strong commitment to “strategic autonomy.” Without this program, European member states looking to replace aging fleets in the 2040s might be forced to procure “off-the-shelf” American solutions, such as those emerging from the U.S. Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.

Furthermore, the alignment between ENGRT II and NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) is crucial. While NATO defines the operational requirements (the “what”), ENGRT is positioning itself to provide the industrial solution (the “how”). The success of this phase will likely determine whether the European aerospace industry can present a competitive, homegrown alternative to US dominance in the vertical lift sector.

Timeline and Next Steps

The execution of ENGRT II is scheduled to run from 2026 through 2029. During this period, the consortium aims to finalize concepts and conduct simulation and wind tunnel testing. Following this maturation phase, the industry expects to select a preferred concept for the NATO NGRC program around 2027, with a target for full-scale development launch by 2030.

Sources: Airbus, European Defence Fund (EDF).